News

October 24, 2017Louis F. Partenza Named IRGSE President and CEO
IRG Sports + Entertainment (IRGSE), a leading marketer and promoter of sports and live entertainment experiences, announced the promotion of Louis F. Partenza to President and Chief Executive Officer.Click Here for the Press Release

June 23, 2017Palm Beach Driving Club Offers a World-Class Experience
Palm Beach Driving Club, the pre-eminent members-only club for automotive enthusiasts in the United States, is located at Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, Fla.Click Here for the Press Release

May 28, 2017Oriol Servia Finishes 21st at Indianapolis 500 Late Crash Dashes Hopes of a Top Finish
Oriol Servia, representing Palm Beach Driving Club, finished 21st in Sunday’s 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 after a late crash ended his shot at a top finish..Click Here for the Press Release

May 24, 2017Oriol Servia, PBDC Gearing Up for Indianapolis 500
The anticipation is building for Oriol Servia and Palm Beach Driving Club for Sunday’s 101st running of the Indianapolis 500.Click Here for the Press Release

May 19, 2017Oriol Servia Climbs to Eighth in Indianapolis 500 Practice
Oriol Servia, representing Palm Beach Driving Club, moved up to eighth on the speed charts in Indianapolis 500 practice on Thursday.Click Here for the Press Release

May 15, 2017Palm Beach Driving Club Representative Oriol Servia Goes Over 220 MPH in first day of Indy 500 Practice
Veteran driver Oriol Servia, representing the Palm Beach Driving Club, went 220.794 mph in the first day of practice for the Indianapolis 500 on Monday.Click Here for the Press Release

March 15, 2016Three-time World Champion Drag Racer Larry Dixon partners with Palm Beach Driving Club
Larry Dixon, a three-time World Championship drag racer, has signed an agreement to represent the Palm Beach Driving Club (PBDC), the club announced today.Click Here for the Press Release

December 20, 2016Paul Jones Joins Palm Beach Driving Club as Managing Director
The Palm Beach Driving Club (PBDC), an exclusive members-only club for automotive enthusiasts at Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR), is pleased to announce the addition of Paul Jones as managing director.Click Here for the Press Release

November 15 , 2016
Palm Beach Driving Club Pro Driver Shane Lewis Wins the Trans Am Series Finale at DaytonaPalm Beach Driving Club’s (PBDC) resident pro driver Shane Lewis ended the 2016 Trans Am Series season on a high note as he secured the top podium spot at Daytona International Speedway over the weekend. Lewis started the 29-lap race in the second position and powered ahead in his No. 72 Robinson Racing Chevrolet Camaro to claim his second TA2 win of the season.Click Here for the Press Release

November 9 , 2016
2nd Annual Ladies Night Benefiting the Margaret W. Nieland Breast Cancer Center Raised over $5,000Palm Beach Driving Club (PBDC) hosted the 2nd Annual Ladies Night presented by Excell Auto Group to raise awareness and funds for the Margaret W. Nieland Breast Cancer Center at Jupiter Medical Group in October. The members only fundraiser raised over $5,000 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.Click Here for the Press Release

May 24, 2016
Palm Beach Driving Club Joins Oriol Servia for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500Premier private members-only driving club partners with Oriol for the biggest day in motorsports historyIRG Sports + Entertainment (IRGSE), a TPG portfolio company, and Palm Beach Driving Club (PBDC) announced a partnership with Verizon IndyCar Series driver Oriol Servia during this week’s Indianapolis 500. The veteran driver is piloting the No. 77 Honda of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for the 100th running of the prestigious open-wheel race.Click Here for the Press Release

April 12, 2016Shawn Hackman Named Chief Revenue Officer of IRG Sports + EntertainmentIRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRGSE), a leading marketer and promoter of sports and live entertainment experiences across the globe, today announced the addition of Shawn Hackman as chief revenue officer (CRO). A recognized expert on business development and sponsorship acquisition in the major sports industry. Mr. Hackman is instrumental in guiding IRGSE’s future success, developing the strategies to drive substantial year-on-year revenue growth across sponsorship, hospitality, merchandise and licensing and leverage the IRGSE-owned properties.Click Here for the Press Release

March 29, 2016IRG Sports + Entertainment Announces Two New Executives to Join Leadership TeamIRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRGSE) has announced the appointment of two new executives to its leadership team as part of the reorganization of the company. Aaron Weiss joins Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) as president and Darren Thompson as International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) vice president administration & logistics.Click Here for the Press Release

February 23, 2016IRGSE names Pilson Communications, Inc. to guide future television and digital agreementsFormer CBS President, Neal Pilson, partners with IRGSE and IHRA to assist with future growthIRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRGSE), a global leader in marketing and promoting of sports and live entertainment experiences, has named Pilson Communications, Inc. (PCI) as its consulting company for future television and digital agreements. The newly aligned partnership will focus on the International Hot Rod Association™ (IHRA), the International Drag Bike League™ (IDBL) and the oldest continuously running drag racing event in the country, the World Series of Drag Racing.Click Here for the Press Release

February 16, 2016IRGSE Announces Multiple Partnerships in ReorganizationIRGSE Momentum includes new Manufacturer’s Council; Advertising Planning for IHRA Member Tracks and new NYC based Corporate Marcom ExecutivesIRG Sports + Entertainment ™ (IRGSE) and The International Hot Rod Association™ (IHRA) announced several long-term agreements with multiple individuals and their respective companies to assist with the reorganization and future growth of the IHRA and IRGSE properties. These announcements come on the heels of the appointment of Mike Dunn as the new IHRA President.Click Here for the Press Release

February 9, 2016The International Hot Rod Association Names Mike Dunn As PresidentIRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRGSE), proud portfolio company of TPG; parent company to the International Hot Rod Association™ (IHRA); one of the fastest-growing professional racing circuits globally, today, announced that Mike Dunn has been installed as President of the IHRA organization in advance of the complete reorganization of the company and its various operations. Dunn, one of the most successful drivers and team organizers in the history of motorsports, joins the IHRA after spending the last 14 years as the face of major league professional drag racing for ESPN.Click Here for the Press Release

December 16, 2015America’s GT Cup and Sportscar Vintage Racing Association Announce Strategic PartnershipAmerica’s GT Cup’s Racing Series to Compete in Their Own Featured Run Group on SVRA Race Weekend Events in 2016Officials from America’s GT Cup and the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) announced today a strategic partnership that will see all three America’s GT Cup sports car racing series compete in their own featured run group on SVRA event weekends in 2016.Click Here for the Press Release

November 30, 2015IRGSE Names Chris Lencheski as Vice Chairman of Board & Chief Executive OfficerIRG Sports + Entertainment (IRGSE) has appointed sports industry veteran and former Comcast-Spectacor entity President Chris Lencheski as Vice Chairman of the Board of Managers and Chief Executive Officer.Click Here for the Press Release

A record 13 different drivers won races in three days of on-track action for The Stuttgart Cup and Mission Foods GT3 Cup Trophy USA this past weekend at the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Daytona Historics at Daytona International Speedway.Click Here for the Press Release

October 24, 2015Rick Stavola and Linden Burnstein Score First Career Sweeps at The Savannah ClassicStavola Closes on The Stuttgart Cup Championship Lead with Pair of Victories; Burnstein Earns First-Ever Mission Foods GT3 Cup Trophy Victories. Rick Stavola and Linden Burnstein each scored their first race-win sweeps in The Stuttgart Cup and Mission Foods GT3 Cup Trophy USA competition at the Savannah Speed Classic where both drivers went two-for-two in Saturday’s BRM Chronographes Enduro and sprint race.Click Here for the Press Release

October 8, 2015Lime Rock and Palm Beach Drivers Clubs form partnershipTwo exclusive driving clubs 1,331 miles apart have agreed on a unique partnership that provides all members of the respective clubs access to each other’s track. Making the announcement were Simon Kirkby, director of the Lime Rock Drivers Club, and Ryan Loeb, director of marketing and communications for the Palm Beach Drivers Club.

The Lime Rock Drivers Club (LRDC) is located at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., in Connecticut’s Northwest Corner, halfway between Boston and New York City. The Palm Beach Drivers Club (PBDC) is located at Palm Beach International Raceway (nee Moroso), just east of Lake Okeechobee in Jupiter, Fla., an hour north of Miami. With members of both clubs often travelling between offices and vacation homes in the Northeast and Florida, LRDC’s Kirkby says the arrangement provides “yet another desirable benefit” for each club’s membership.Click Here for the Press Release

October 1, 2015IRG Sports + Entertainment Closes RecapitalizationIRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRGSE) is pleased to announce completion of its recapitalization with TPG Specialty Lending, Inc. (TSL). TSL is the U.S. direct originations investment platform of TPG Special Situations Partners, the credit and special situations platform of TPG, a $75 billion global private investment firm. TSL will assist IRGSE, a leading marketer and promoter of sports and live entertainment across the United States and Canada, in pursuing future growth. As result of the recapitalization IRGSE has a stronger balance sheet as well as access to the substantial resources and capital of a leading investment firm.Click Here for the Press Release

September 1, 2015Shane Lewis Wins The 3-Dimensional Services Group Triple Shot Showdown At Road AmericaAfter a thrilling one-two finish at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course earlier in August, Shane Lewis and the Robinson Racing team arrived at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin last week, for Round 8 of the Trans Am Series, radiating with confidence. America’s National Park of Speed, Road America promised to be an intense challenge, especially at a circuit evoking such a storied 60-year history in motorsports.Click Here for the Press Release

June 3, 2015IRG Sports + Entertainment™ Announces Hiring of New CFO, Lou Partenza joins IRG from Florida Panthers
IRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRG), a leading marketer and promoter of sports and live entertainment experiences in the United States and Canada announced today that Lou Partenza has joined the company as its new Chief Financial Officer. In his new role, Partenza will oversee the finance, accounting, budgeting and strategic planning for all of IRG’s properties as well as manage the company’s relationship with TPG Specialty Lending. Partenza joins IRG with more than 20 years of experience in financial operations, strategic revenue growth, and has a significant background in executive leadership within the sports industry.Click Here for the Press Release

January 20, 2015Palm Beach Grand Prix on Valentine’s Day WeekendIf you love watching races on the Road Course, you’ll adore that the Palm Beach Grand Prix is returning to PBIR on Valentine’s Day weekend! The 3-day event starts with a private testing session for racers on Thursday, February 12, 2015 which is not open to the general public. On Friday, February 13, practice sessions and afternoon races are held from 8 am to 5 pm, with Formula 1600, Formula 2000 and Formula Atlantic series races – plus a featured race of the Stuttgart Cup with Porsche Cayman and 911 Cup Cars.Click Here for the Press Release

December 29, 2014Corner Marshal Robert Hoffstetter Passes AwayOn Sunday, December 28, 2014, during the Florida Track Days event at Palm Beach International Raceway’s (PBIR) Road Course, a rider experienced a mechanical failure on his Yamaha R1 motorcycle: the throttle became stuck in the open position. The rider dismounted from the motorcycle before approaching Turn 9. The motorcycle continued down the track, impacting the tire wall at Turn 9 where Robert “Goofy” Hoffstetter was positioned as a corner marshal. Medics AMR staff stabilized Hoffstetter at the site, and he was then transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach by a Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Trauma Hawk. Hoffstetter passed away due to the injuries sustained during the accident.Click Here for the Press Release

December 2, 2014Fifth Annual PRO Winter Warm-up Returns to Palm Beach International Raceway on January 16-17, 2015Palm Beach International Raceway™ (PBIR) is pleased to once again partner with the Professional Racers Owners Organization, Inc. (PRO) in hosting the fifth annual PRO Winter Warm-up presented by Bennett Auto Supply on January 16 and 17, 2015. The largest drag racing event in South Florida, PRO Winter Warm-up features professional drivers and race teams, testing and tuning Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars under the lights at PBIR’s Drag Strip. With no points or purses on the line, the teams prepare for their 2015 racing season with performance tests and practice runs at PBIR.Click Here for the Press Release

November 17, 2014Cars Under The Stars Celebrates Palm Beach International Raceway’s 50th Anniversary 2nd Annual Live Auction, Dinner and Concert To Benefit Place Of Hope
The 2nd Annual Cars Under The Stars event on Saturday, November 22, 2014, celebrates Palm Beach International Raceway™’s (PBIR) 50th Anniversary while benefiting Place of Hope, Palm Beach County’s largest child welfare agency. From race car experiences on PBIR’s Road Course to a classic rock concert, Cars Under The Stars offers motorsports enthusiasts an evening of festive entertainment – all to benefit foster children and youth who have been displaced from their homes due to abuse, neglect, and abandonment. This year, the event is generously underwritten by presenting sponsors Lamborghini Palm Beach and Lexus of Palm Beach.Click Here for the Press Release

November 13, 2014IRG Sports + Entertainment acquires Maryland International Raceway; Royce Miller joins IRG team as Chief Operating Officer
IRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRG) President & CEO, Jason Rittenberry, announced today that the Company has acquired Maryland International Raceway℠ (MDIR) in Budds Creek, Maryland. Last month, IRG announced a major financing agreement with TPG Specialty Lending (NYSE:TSLX) that funded a recapitalization of the Company and the acquisition of two additional motorsports venues, including Maryland International Raceway.Click Here for the Press Release

November 3, 2014IRG Sports + Entertainment acquires Cordova Dragway Park; Laura Gardner named Corporate Director of HRIRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRG) announced that it has closed on the transaction to acquire Cordova Dragway Park, and has assumed control of the facility’s operations effective today. The motorsports venue has been renamed Cordova International Raceway™ (CIR), joining sister tracks Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, Florida; Memphis International Raceway in Millington, Tennessee; and Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson, Arizona.Click Here for the Press Release

October 30, 2014
Manufacturers Series Adds Velocity TV to its Super Chevy Shows for 2015The Super Chevy Show event series will join the Velocity Network as the newest TV program in the lineup of automotive-driven content with 13 episodes highlighting the 2015 season. Discovery Communications’ high-definition cable channel Velocity, will bring the same namesake Super Chevy Show into 62 million households across the U.S., and is scheduled to air on 13 consecutive weeks from October through December 2015.Click Here for the Press Release

October 3, 2014IRG Sports + Entertainment Announces Major Financing Deal with TPG Specialty Lending and Acquisition of Two New TracksIRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRG) President & CEO, Jason Rittenberry, announced today that the Company has entered into a finance agreement with TPG Specialty Lending (NYSE:TSLX), the publicly traded affiliate of TSSP, the credit and special situations investment platform of TPG. The new credit facility is replacing IRG’s existing debt facilities on all companies, make capital improvements to existing assets owned by the Company and to close on the acquisition of Cordova Dragway Park in Cordova, Illinois (to be rebranded as Cordova International Raceway™ (CIR), that was announced in late 2013. The TPG facility also provides the Company with funds to purchase an additional major motorsports venue, which the Company will announce in the coming weeks.Click Here for Press Release

June 18, 2014PBDC’s Resident Pro Driver Shane Lewis Returns to Race in the 24 Hours of NürburgringAccomplished, veteran racer Shane Lewis, Palm Beach Driving Club’s Resident Professional Driver, returns to the prestigious ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring with GDL Racing in a Porsche 991 GT3 Cup this weekend. For Lewis, this will be his sixth time racing at a 24 Hours of Nürburgring event and the 39th 24-hour race of his career. He won the event in 2010 in an Audi RS4 along with co-driver Vic Rice and has also won two 6 Hour races at Nürburgring.Click Here for the Press Release

May 7, 2014IRG Sports + Entertainment Announces Staff Changes
IRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRG) is pleased to announce the promotion of Hillary O’Brian to Chief Financial Officer. O’Brian has managed the accounting for the group of IRG companies since joining the company one year ago in April.
At Palm Beach International Raceway™ (PBIR), Bill Murray, the Director of Food and Beverage, adds Drag Strip Operations to his role.
PBIR also welcomes new staff member Bill Kuehn to the sales team as Manager of Corporate Partnerships. Kuehn is based at PBIR and will call on a nationwide territory of prospects for PBIR sponsorships. A native of Illinois, Kuehn has an extensive background in sales, public relations, client services, race track operations and venue management.
After two years as Director of Business Development at PBIR, Jackie Rea has transitioned to focusing on the Palm Beach Driving Club as the new Manager and Membership Coordinator.Click Here for the Press Release

November 14, 2013Dale Gann Named Vice President & General Manager of PBIRIRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRG), the parent company of multiple motorsports properties, announced today thatDale Gann has been promoted from Executive Vice President of Operations to Vice President and General Manager of Palm Beach International Raceway™ (PBIR). Gann joined the team at PBIR in March of 2009 and earned promotions in both 2012 and earlier in 2013, assuming additional directorial responsibilities for the facility as a whole including staffing, budgeting and event management.Click here for Press Release

August 2, 2013Champion Motorsport expands partnership with Palm Beach International Raceway
As part of an ongoing commitment to developing the automotive and motorsport culture in South Florida, Champion Motorsport, Inc. of Pompano Beach has once again strengthened its relationship with Palm Beach International Raceway™ and the Palm Beach Driving Club®. The expanded partnership resulted in the official naming of Turn 10 on the 2.034-mile Road Course as the Champion Motorsport Corner.Click here for Press Release

Shane Lewis is starting Round 3 at Virginia International Raceway with Pirelli World Challenge from the POLE! Live coverage at 3:40est at world-challenge.com. Shane Lewis Go Shane Go! Congratulations! ... See MoreSee Less